Contest of Art, a Dressing-room Critique (Gei kurabe gakuya no hyôban); Actors depicted: ?, Ichimura Kakitsu IV, Ichikawa Kodanji IV, Nakamura Kamenojô I, Seki Sanjûrô III, Ichikawa Ichizô III (R); Bandô Hikosaburô V, ?, Jitsukawa Enjaku I, Nakamura Fukusuke II, Sawamura Tosshô I, Nakayama Genjûrô? (C); Nakamura Tsurusuke IV ?, Ichikawa Danzô VI, Nakamura Tsuruzô I, Kawarazaki Gonjûrô I, Ichikawa Yonejûrô II, Arashi Hinasuke VII (L)

右　「芸競戯房評判」「長」「市川市蔵」（三代目）、「市村羽左衛門」（四代目市村家橘）、「中村歌女之丞」（初代）、「関三十郎」（三代目）絵、右：　？、四代目市村家橘、四代目市川小団次、初代中村歌女之丞、三代目関三十郎、三代目市川市蔵中　「実川延二郎」（＝初代実川延若ヵ）、「中村福助」（二代目）、「中山現十郎」（二代目）、「中村鶴助」（四代目）絵、中：　五代目坂東彦三郎、？、初代実川延若、二代目中村福助、二代目沢村訥升、二代目中山現十郎ヵ左　「市川米十郎」（二代目）、「中村鶴蔵」（初代）、「嵐雛助」（七代目）、「河原崎権十郎」（初代）、「市川団蔵」（六代目）絵、左：　四代目中村鶴助ヵ、六代目市川団蔵、初代中村鶴蔵、初代河原崎権十郎、二代目市川米十郎、七代目嵐雛助

Toyohara Kunichika (Japanese, 1835–1900)
Publisher: Izutsuya Shôkichi, Japanese
Blockcutter: Asakura Hori Man (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1863 (Bunkyû 3), 11th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 36.4 × 73.5 cm (14 5/16 × 28 15/16 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.41750a-c

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Waseda db

DescriptionWith commentaries on the actors by Shuntei Keikaku. The names inscribed in the text do not include all of the actors depicted.
見立
画面上部は春亭京鶴による役者の評判。

Signed Kunichika ga (on each sheet)
国周画

Marks Censor's seal: Boar 11 aratame
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Man
改印：亥十一改
彫師：彫万

ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.